The answer is Azure Cache for Redis and Azure Cosmos DB. These two solutions are specifically designed to meet the demands of high throughput and low latency data storage for Azure microservices, with Redis providing an in-memory cache layer that offloads repetitive reads at sub-millisecond speeds, while Cosmos DB offers a globally distributed, multi-model NoSQL database with configurable consistency levels and guaranteed single-digit millisecond latency at the 99th percentile. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between purpose-built, scalable services and traditional or file-based storage that cannot handle the rapid, stateless data access patterns of microservices. A common trap is choosing Azure SQL Database for its familiarity, but its relational overhead and scaling limitations make it unsuitable for extreme throughput, while Azure Files and Table Storage lack the low-latency guarantees required. Remember the memory tip: "Cache for speed, Cosmos for seed"—Redis caches hot data for instant access, and Cosmos DB seeds the persistent, globally fast data layer.
AZ-305 Design infrastructure solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure solutions. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO of the following are valid data storage solutions for an Azure-based microservices architecture that requires high throughput and low latency? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Cosmos DB
Correct answers are A and D. Option B is wrong because Azure SQL Database is relational and may not provide the scalability needed for high throughput. Option C is wrong because Azure Files is for file shares, not optimized for microservices. Option E is wrong because Table Storage is for NoSQL key-value store but lower throughput than Cosmos DB.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Azure Table Storage
Why it's wrong here
Table Storage is a NoSQL store but with lower throughput and latency compared to Cosmos DB.
✓
Azure Cosmos DB
Why this is correct
Cosmos DB is a globally distributed, multi-model database with guaranteed low latency and high throughput.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Files
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files is a file share service, not suitable for high-throughput microservices data.
✓
Azure Cache for Redis
Why this is correct
Azure Cache for Redis provides in-memory caching with extremely low latency, ideal for microservices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database is relational and can scale, but may not achieve the same throughput as Cosmos DB for microservices.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
Identify which AZ-305 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Cosmos DB — Correct answers are A and D. Option B is wrong because Azure SQL Database is relational and may not provide the scalability needed for high throughput. Option C is wrong because Azure Files is for file shares, not optimized for microservices. Option E is wrong because Table Storage is for NoSQL key-value store but lower throughput than Cosmos DB.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-305 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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